Tonight, the Texas Senate voted 21-10 to pass House Bill 3994, to protect teens seeking secret abortions. According to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the bill is expected to pass the final step in the State Senate and to be signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. HB 3994 provides crucial reforms to the process whereby pregnant teens obtain permission to undergo an abortion from a judge instead of a parent.

Since 1999, the abortion operatives have exploited the judicial bypass process, funneling pregnant teens through an secret court process for permission to undergo secret abortions. If one judge denied the petition, anti-Life attorneys representing the teens could continue filing petitions in any county until finding a judge who would grant the request.

Of the reforms introduced by Senator Charles Perry (R—Lubbock) in HB 3994, the office of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released the following statement:

Today, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 3994, (HB 3994), also known as the “Judicial Bypass” bill, to third reading…The bill’s purpose is to prohibit a physician from performing an abortion on an underage child without her parent’s consent, or legal court order authorizing the minor to consent to an abortion…Protecting the life of the unborn is one of the most important acts we can take as elected officials.

Texas Right to Life Director, Elizabeth Graham, thanked Lt. Gov. Patrick for his support of HB 3994, “Pro-Life Texans are incredibly grateful to Lieutenant Governor Patrick and the twenty senators who stood with Senator Perry in support of the crucial reforms encompassed by HB 3994. Because of the commitment of these senators to Pro-Life values – including the protection of minors and parents from the predatory tactics of Big Abortion, Texas continues to affirm Life.”

2nd Reading vote on HB3994 was 21-10. 3rd Reading vote will happen tomorrow, then to the House to concur w/ changes then to the Gov's desk.

Senator Perry responded to opponents’ questions for nearly four hours as the Senate debated the provisions in HB 3994 on Monday afternoon. The bill has already passed the Texas House on May 14th by a vote of 93-46 with Representative Geanie Morrison (R-Victoria) as the original sponsor.